Visit Devonport Guildhall

Devonport Column

Designed in 1824 by John Foulston, Devonport Column offers panoramic views of Plymouth’s landscape – stretching towards Dartmoor and across the sea. Public access to the Column had been restricted from the 1950s but is now open for people to enjoy once again. As one of the few remaining commemorative columns in the country still open to the public, Devonport Column is a rare heritage site steeped in history and offering one of the best views in town. It also has free Wi-Fi available, so you can access the audio tour and further discover our rich history. The spiral staircase awaits you – just 137 steps to go…

Access cards can be bought from Column Bakehouse, located to the right of Devonport Guildhall.

Column Cam

Tours

Devonport Guildhall and Column share a fascinating history, dating back nearly 200 years. You can explore this history for free, through our interactive audio tour. As you discover our site on foot, you can tune in and learn about all the different areas of our history – from the Cells and Police Station to the Court and Mortuary!

Created by RIO in collaboration with The Media Workshop, Plymouth City Museum and local historian Chris Robinson, our audio tour offers an insightful exploration of our past and the local area’s history.

If available, our Guildhall team are also very happy to give you information about the building. Please find our office at the rear of the building to enquire.

Audio Tour

The tour is split between an indoor and an outdoor section, each lasting 30 minutes. To access this free tour, simply follow the link below. Alternatively, use your smartphone or tablet to scan the QR code found inside the building to get started. Visitors are recommended to bring their own headphones, but pairs are also available from Column Bakehouse at £1 each.

Column Bakehouse

Column Bakehouse is Plymouth’s first and only social enterprise bakery, first opening at Devonport Guildhall in 2013. Their award-winning artisan bread is made fresh on site each day, with a range of loaves on offer. What’s more? They also have a café, found to the right of Devonport Guildhall building. For a bite to eat and a wholesome loaf to take home, pop down to our wonderful Bakehouse. If you find yourself at Royal William Yard, discover their second home at Ocean Studios.

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